The “Cueillette Solidaire” association offers to pick and collect excess fruit and vegetables, directly from private gardens. Harvests given to the Food Bank of Burgundy, before being distributed to food aid associations.
From the top of his ladder, Jean-Michel scans the foliage in search of figs. “It makes me feel good !“, he smiles. “I take great pleasure in coming to pick the fruit.“That morning, in the company of several other volunteers, the retiree went to a garden in Dijon where the fruits proliferate. With one objective: to recover all those that their owner will not consume.
This mission is carried out by an association of Côte-d’Or, “Cueillette Solidaire”. Its president, Christine Laborier, launched it at the beginning of the year, after having had the “click“seeing pedestrians stepping on cherries on the ground.”It was a realization. Since then, our group of pickers has been fighting against food waste, because we find it unbearable.“
Figs picked by the volunteers of the association. • © Guillaume Robin / France Televisions
Since August 16, the association has been regularly visiting private gardens. “When it gives a lot, there is too much, even if people give to family or friends“, underlines Christine Laborier. In a few weeks, nearly 100 kilos of plums have for example been harvested in Dijon and around.
An initiative that delights Olivier Perrot, a Dijonnais who opened his garden to volunteers. “I have too many fruits, some are getting lost. It’s obviously a good idea to give them to people who need them. We must be united in life!“
Watching tomatoes or figs fall on the floor and then sweep them away is pretty ridiculous.
Olivier Perrot,
owner of a garden
Christine Laborier, president of the association. “When it gives a lot, there is too much, even if people give to their family or their friends” • © Guillaume Robin / France Télévisions
Once the fruits and vegetables have been saved, the volunteers bring them to the Food Bank of Burgundy. There, the foodstuffs are placed in cold rooms before being distributed to the various food aid associations in Dijon.
“Products need to be distributed quickly, so no time is wasted“, says Yvon Ulmann, communication manager. “Upon arrival, they are sorted and can be left the next day or the day after.“
“We act as an intermediary between the producer and solidarity“, summarizes Christine Laborier. “Here, for example, in the case of these figs, these are fairly rare products that will be given to people who could not buy them in stores because they are too expensive. It is really this value of solidarity and giving that drives us.“
The fruits and vegetables harvested are then given to the Food Bank of Burgundy. • © Guillaume Robin / France Televisions
If you wish to contact the association, you can do so via this email address: [email protected]
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